Vihma frowned.
"Maybe a lil bit," the weasel admitted.
She turned to face the ferret, staying silent as she fished something from her satchel. It was the telescope from Piper's crossbow - expensive government property, not that Vihma particularly cared. It was of more use here than on the weapons rack back on the Hide.
"I uh, well..."
She fiddled with it, as though it was somehow some important task requiring her distraction.
"Y'know, I keep thinkin' about you. About us, I mean. Up in the crow's nest... Even there on the shore, when we were 'bout t'be overrun by the... y'know, the shrews... I remember thinking..."
Vihma trailed off. She remembered thinking about all she'd dragged herself into. All she'd dragged Morgan into. Thinking of how things would be if one of the Urk warriors had just been a little faster, just a little stronger, just a little bit better with their aim.
"Lot'v jacks I've liked, I jus' sorta... drove 'em away, I guess. Mayhaps they weren't really interested t'begin with. Who knows, neh? But... they - they always knew where I stood, at least."
The weasel coughed as if to clear her throat. It felt dry again. She wished on the stars she'd have brought some booze with her, more, now, just to make herself brave.
"Any'ow, I just means t'say I... I really care about ye, an' I... I wanted ye t'know that... just in case..."
Vihma couldn't bear to look at Morgan, already imagining the puzzled reaction to her words, the sheepish, delicate platitudes and clarifications she'd get back in response. The ferret wasn't the type to mock her, she was pretty sure of that. Maybe things would be awkward for a while, but... the ferret wouldn't hurt her, at least not meaning to. She could be sure of that, at least.
